The Search for Orthodoxy A.D. 325–553

Abstract

How could Christendom be split into six churches by the mid-sixth century, despite repeated, strenuous efforts to bring about a unity of doctrine? The six were, at the end (and five remain to this day), Arian, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, and East Syrian. The focus of discussion is on the eastern half of the Roman world and on the play of forces beyond the strictly theological at the decisive councils: namely, control of procedures, documents, and witnesses, so as to insure a majority vote at the end, and, in the run-up, control of the emperor who summoned the council and determined the list of invited bishops. The forming of voting blocs encouraged the forming of fixed traditions, influenced by regional loyalties of all sorts and stubbornly maintained in the face even of imperial force. Hence, from the mid-fifth century, independent churches.